exponential function

The variable x in the equation is called the 'exponent', the function is called the exponential
function. The oldest exponential series is: 1, 2, 4, 8 and so on. There is an old
legend about a scholar who could choose his own reward for some job. He asked to place
grains of corn on a chess board, starting with one, on each field the double amount of the
former...
With the Euler number e1) as base of the
power, the function is the natural
exponential function exp(x), sometimes abbreviated as exponential function.
For other values of the base of the power the function is a general exponential function.

The inverse of the exponential function is the logarithmic
function or logarithm. This general logarithm is written as y = a
log(x) or y = loga(x).
For e as the base of the logarithm the curve is called the natural
logarithm ln(x) 2). Her
derivative is the hyperbola y=1/x. The
natural logarithm is sometimes called the Napierian
logarithm, but these two are slightly different 3). John Napier (1550-1617), a
Scottish baron from Merchiston, was the first to relate the geometric series and the
arithmetic series. For this purpose he uses the logarithm function.
For 10 as the base of the logarithm we've got the common
logarithm log(x), also called Briggs'
logarithm or Briggian logarithm.
Henry Briggs (1561-1631) was an English mathematician, an admirer of Napier, who
wrote the natural logarithm in its modern form (1624). It is common to measure the volume
of sound in decibels, which has been defined as the 10log of the proportion of
the measured sound pressure to the atmospheric pressure.
For 2 as the base of the logarithm the binary logarithm
lb(x) is the case.
In relation to the logarithm, the exponential function can be denoted as inverse logarithm or antilogarithm.

In ancient times, when calculators and computers were uncommon (or not existent at
all), many calculations were done with the help of logarithmic derivations.
Operations as multiplying, dividing or raising to a power can be simplified to the adding
and subtracting of logarithms by use or relations as log ab = log a + log b and log ak
= k log a.
You can use a slide-rule with a logarithmic scale, on two parts, one movable. By pulling
out the movable part a logarithmic addition or subtraction can be made. The result can be
seen at once. When more precise resulted are necessary, you can use logarithmic tables,
with the desired accuracy. Ciphering is now looking up various logarithmic values,
subtracting or adding, and looking up the final result in the logarithmic table.

In the time of the logarithmic tables the cologarithm
was used to prevent negative results. The function has been defined as: colog(x) = 10
log(1/x).

When experimentally testing an exponential relation between variables, it makes sense
to display the results on logarithmic paper. This is squared paper where one of the two
axes has a logarithmic (semi logarithmic) scale. When a straight line emerges, the
exponential relation has been confirmed. From the angle with the x-axis the exponent can
be derived. Because blogz = clogz / clogb, different
bases of power are related with a constant factor. So one logarithmic choice satisfies.
When using two logarithmic (double logarithmic) axes, a power
relation between two variables - like y = x a - can be tested.

Consider that something grows, proportional with time as well with quantity. In such a
simple model growth takes place exponentially as function of the time. This can also be
formulated as dy = a y dt, so y' = a y and y(t) = y(0) e at.
That's why the curve is also called growth curve.
The exponential function grows faster than each polynomial (in x), and we can prove that :

Many physical processes pass away as a (natural) exponential function of
the time. In many cases there is a negative exponent, a phenomenon gradually approaches
some equilibrium.
For radioactive decay the constant in the exponent is determined by the kind of isotope.
For the process of absorption of light the constant is called the absorption coefficient.
For a closed electrical circuit with voltage V, resistance R and capacity (of capacitor) C
the charge on the capacitor approaches asymptotically to C V 4).
We go on: for a turbulent flow you can describe the distance between points in the flow as
increasing exponentially with time.
And in ionic crystals there exists, except for an attractive Coulomb force, also a
repellent force. A force for which the potential is an exponential function of the
distance (with negative exponent).
For the high water for the Dutch coast you can graph how many times a certain height has
been reached. This curve is also a (negative) exponential curve, according wait time
theory.

The law of Euler gives the relationship between the exponential and the trigonometric
functions: eix = cosx + i sinx, so that the following wonderful relationship
holds: eπi + 1 = 0.